Be careful with fireworks at protests.

Yesterday, the majority of protestors were peaceful.

However, several fireworks were set off and exploded at ground level within the crowd of protestors, causing a crowd surge of people running from the blasts.

I do not know if this was from counterprotestors, or from within the ranks, but please do not do this; you need to be much more careful with explosives.

If you are going to be armed, please make sure you do not cause collateral damage to your fellow protestors. Weapons must be used only in self defense against advancing violent antagonistic threats, and hopefully will go unused.

If you go to any protests in the coming weeks and months, and you see anyone carrying fireworks or other weapons, make sure you have a friendly conversation with them about how they plan to use them, and urge them to please be careful. Humanize yourself to them, so that they think twice about engaging in actions that could harm you and others around you.

Using rental electric mobility vehicles as barricades, such as scooters and e-bikes, is also an effective and safe way to protect your fellow protestors from advancing threats, especially from road vehicles. Such methods should be used first, as they have less risk of harming people next to you.